If you have noticed a lot more people out and about on bikes recently, don’t worry – your eyes are not deceiving you.
Whether it be on a folding bike, a hybrid, a road bike, or a mountain bike, the world’s recent craze for bikes has been brought on because of one key reason: the rise of electric technology.
Long gone are the days of needing to hop off your bike to push it up an overly daunting hill. Nowadays, electric bikes are capable of carrying you over huge distances, providing you with that extra little bit of juice whenever you need it most.
This, coupled with the recent coronavirus pandemic, has led to a huge boom in popularity, with many experts forecasting the electric bike market to carry on growing over the next few years. Recent statistics have shown that an electric bike is sold once every three minutes, outselling electric cars for the first time last year.
So, with this in mind, we thought we’d get into the nitty-gritty of why electric bikes have suddenly become so popular, highlighting the main reasons as to why people are deciding to splash the cash on them.
Electric Bikes Make Rides Easier
We start with a fairly obvious point, electric bikes make bike rides a lot easier to do. There’s nothing worse than running out of steam pedalling up a giant hill, after all, feeling shattered before you’ve even reached the halfway point.
Thanks to the pedal assistance system electric bikes come with now though, this makes light work of hills, enabling cyclists of all shapes, sizes, and ages to enjoy their rides without worrying about injuring themselves or even breaking a sweat.
This, in turn, has encouraged more people to use their electric bike instead of their car when making trips to and from places, while also helping a huge number of people rediscover their love of cycling.
Electric Bikes Are Better For The Planet
While the coronavirus pandemic may have been the talk of the town in recent months, climate change is still a global concern in dire need of addressing.
As such, many people may have chosen to invest in electric bikes as an alternative to buying a gas-guzzling car, largely due to how much better for the environment they are. “Electric bikes are good for the environment thanks to their impact on behaviour when commuting. It enables more people to ride, which translates into less traffic on the roads,” says Urban eBikes. “The assistance gives riders more confidence on the road, with it easier to get up to speed. As a result they ride further and faster than they would otherwise do so”.
Capable of being charged using sustainably sourced energy, electric bikes are also incredibly economical to run, maintain and look after, making them a great investment for people looking to play their part in protecting the planet.
Electric Bikes Are Being Encouraged By The Government
While on the topic of climate change, the government has recently introduced laws and legislation to help reduce traffic congestion and prevent air pollution. This, in turn, has led to a huge £250 million increase in UK government funding towards the creation of dedicated cycling lanes and safer road junctions.
Similarly, the recent introduction of work-based incentives and the Green Commute Initiative have actively encouraged more people to get involved with cycling. As a result of this, electric bikes are now available to buy at a much more cost-effective rate. This, again, could explain the sudden rise in the popularity of electric bikes.
Electric Bikes Keep You Healthy
When you don’t need that extra bit of pedalling assistance to help you out, an electric bike will effectively work in the same way as a manual push bike. As such, they will offer the same range of health and fitness benefits that you would expect from cycling-based activities.
From improved cardiovascular fitness to increased muscle strength and flexibility, cycling on a regular basis has also been linked to decreased stress levels, improved posture, stronger bones, and decreased levels of body fat.
With this in mind, and in light of the multiple months of lockdown, staying fit and healthy has become a top priority for many people, with cycling quickly becoming one of the most popular hobbies taken up throughout the pandemic. This, again, may explain why there has been such a boom in their popularity over recent months.
Final Thoughts
The recent electric bike craze doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon. It only looks set to grow more and more over time – which is a great thing. After all, the more people there are choosing to use bikes, the fewer cars there will be on the road and the better the planet will fare as a result.
What’s more, while the technology may still be in its relative infancy, it is certainly an area of excitement that will only get better and better over time. Therefore, if you haven’t done so already, investing in an electric bike could not only improve your overall love of cycling but could revolutionise your life at the same time as well.
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